Ne Zha 2 makes history as it passes 10 billion yuan in ticket receipts

陈小将

Ne Zha 2, China's box-office sensation, smashed through the key 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) mark in ticket receipts on Thursday, including presales and overseas revenue, signaling the vast potential of the domestic cinema industry.

Since its debut on Jan 29, the film - a sequel to the 2019 top-grossing movie in China Ne Zha - has consistently broken box office records, with audience enthusiasm showing no signs of abating.

Its latest achievement saw it leap ahead of Hollywood blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie to become the world's third highest-grossing animated movie.

Visitors pose for photos with a statue of Nezha, the character of the animation blockbuster Ne Zha 2, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Saturday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

It also makes Ne Zha 2 the 17th highest-grossing film in global cinematic history. This production is the first non-Hollywood movie to be part of the top 30 list.

Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film employs a bold and innovative narrative to reinterpret the titular character, a renowned figure in Chinese mythology.